Our Trip

We had such a fun trip to Alaska. I could go on and on about how beautiful it is. These pictures really do not show how exquisitely breathtaking the landscape is. Mt. McKinley is massive. Denali State Park is gorgeous! We went horse back riding, white water river rafting, ATV ridding, and gold panning. We went on a river boat cruise, and Mike and the boys went salmon fishing. Peter caught a 25lb salmon! One afternoon, we went to the Husky Homestead. This is where 4 time Iditarod champion dog musher, Jeff King, lives and trains his dogs. We got to hold 3 week old puppies! We saw the dogs go on a training run, and the sled used in the race.

This time of year, it does not get dark in Alaska. It was very strange to never see darkness. The sun would set below the horizon, but it never looked like night. At 2 am, it looked more like 7pm. If you wanted to, you could schedule a tee time at midnight, or sign up for a midnight 10k race. The food was delicious! Lots of fresh seafood, and yummy cobblers for desert.

We never saw any bears, but we heard plenty of stories about people who did! We did see a few moose, reindeer, and foxes. It rained a few days, but we were very lucky with several sunny and warm days. Apparently, Mt. McKinley makes its own weather, so we were lucky that we got to see it. I thought this fact was fun: Winter in Alaska is beyond cold....school kids don't get a snow day unless temps reach 50 below zero!

There is so much to experience in Alaska. There are places we did not get to, like Glacier Bay, that we would love to see. I'd love to go back again one day. It was an awesome family vacation!

Nineteen Months

Nineteen months and counting........

Lot's of things going on this summer, lot's of things to look forward to. Sometimes, I can't believe we are already halfway through 2008.

Referrals Are In

The stork has landed! CCAA matched 8 days of LIDs. The cut-off is January 20, 2006. Congratulations to all the new moms and dads. This is the best time of the month. The babies I've seen are all so precious! It makes my heart go pitter-patter. And I'm very excited for two friends, Tara and Gail, who are waiting to travel to China. Very soon, they'll be bringing their children home!

We are LID November 14, 2006. Without doing the very depressing math, we've got a long way to go......but, every month bring us one month closer to Lilly. And always at this time of the month, it strikes me that this is not just about "LID math". It is about families being created, and that is a wonderful and amazing thing.

Rafting

We went rafting through Gore Canyon, on the Colorado River. It was a great day! The skies were blue, and the sun was shining. When we stopped for a picnic lunch, we saw an eagle soaring above us. The boys did a little fly fishing, and also practiced their rowing skills (in the calm parts). The water was very cold and running fast because of the snow melt. Some of the rapids were bigger then I expected. We did see someone get "bounced out" while going through a section called "Eye of the Needle". They were fine, and quickly pulled back into their raft. No pictures of this, because I was closing my eyes and hanging on! Mike is very experienced at rafting/rowing, and he got us through the technical parts with no worries. Most of the time was spent soaking up the sun and our beautiful surroundings.

Almost....

Just a few more days, and we'll begin the always anticipated summer vacation. Tyler has 2 days of finals to get through, and Will and Peter, well, they just have to make it 3 more days. We've got some fun things planned for summer. Tyler is taking a road trip with some friends, many fishing trips for Mike and the boys, a week long football camp for Will and Peter, an eight day trip to Alaska, and a month long stay at my families lake house.

I'm ready for a break from proof reading essays, trying to remember algebra, packing lunches, and early morning alarm clocks waking up the house. I love the fun and lazy days of summer!

Edited 5/30: we made it through the week!! whoohoo school is out!!!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

As we enjoy our weekend with family and friends, let us remember all those who have laid down their lives so that we can continue to enjoy the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Birthday Boys!

So your the guy I've been hanging out with!What mischief can we get into now?Best friends....


One May 21, 1994, Mike and I were blessed with the arrival of our twins! I won't bore you with the details of my pregnancy, but it was a challenging journey. William and Peter were born at 33 weeks, weighing a very respectable 5"9 and 4"12. William was born first, at 1:46 pm. Peter was born a long 12 minutes later, at 1:58 pm. They were strong and determined from the very beginning. After spending about 10 days in the hospital, we brought them home to a very excited big brother. The bond between Will and Peter goes far beyond what I can even explain. They are unique in so many ways, but share something more then being brothers. I will share this; William was the bigger baby, in the womb, and as a newborn. Peter has often told us that he remembers being in "the water", and that he felt "so smooched"! When they were toddlers, they had their own made-up names for each other. They are partners in crime, and what one doesn't dream up, the other will. They have always been fiercely protective of each other. They are truly each others best friend. Now, please don't think that they don't fight, because I often find myself playing referee!

Being the mother of twins is such an incredible blessing, and an amazing journey. I could write volumes on this! It is true, the first year was somewhat of a blur. Even today, Mike and I will say, "how did we do that?". Mike and I have been so blessed by these two wonderful boys. For all of the ways they are alike, their individual spirits are wondrous. Every single day is a joy, and they make me feel so very special. I am grateful everyday for them, their love, their joy, and their accomplishments. One their first birthday, I gave them each a wall plaque that says, "God danced the day you were born." William and Peter embrace life to the fullest, and I could not be more proud of them!

Happy 14th Birthday, William and Peter. I love you more then I can say.